7200 cod fingerlings freed by local group

THE Central Vic Lure Casters Super Series will annually release fingerlings into the Loddon and Campaspe river systems after a successful family day on Saturday.

The group released 7200 Murray cod fingerlings into the Murray River at Torrumbarry on Saturday, with funds raised through a raffle and donated by the New South Wales Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests.

But organiser Jarrod Martin said it was always the CVLSS’s plan to restock central Victorian rivers.

“The Victorian government have not set up a system which prevented us from being able to do it this year,” Mr Martin said.

“We want to stock the local area first.”

Mr Martin said about 45 people attended the family day, including competitors, their families and local Echuca people.

“There was a bit of a mix of new and old,” he said.

“When the fish turned up, everyone was very excited and keen to open them up and release them.”

Mr Martin said the CVLSS was consistently gaining more competitors in its one-day catch and release fishing competitions.

“It’s getting bigger and better, with more competitors participating every meet,” he said.

“There is no other type of fishing competition like it.

“We always try to encourage people to bring kids and teach them catch and release fishing.”